A right-hand opening batsman, Michael Gough looked to have a promising career ahead of him. He captained the England Under-19 side and in 2002, aged 22, he averaged over 50 for Durham. But one season later and he had quit, for the simple reason he did not enjoy playing the game. "Each year I kept thinking: 'I'll give myself another season and I might enjoy myself more.' But it didn't happen. There would be times when I'd sit there thinking: 'Surely there's more to life than this.' I still enjoyed watching the game, though, so I thought that I might be able to give it a go as an umpire."

He sat his umpiring exams - in between working in his father's shop - and in 2006 he was appointed to the ECB's reserve list at the age of 27. Three years later he was appointed to the full list of first-class umpires.
Martin Williamson